Campus editors last week gave the green light for the formation of an association to strengthen the hand of university newspapers, magazines and websites in the struggle for independence and commercial viability.

At a conference in London before the 21st Guardian Student Media Awards, representatives of the leading university and college publications gave an enthusiastic reception to plans for a Student Press Association, independent of the National Union of Students.

Its aim would be to provide a support network for student editors and journalists who remain in post for only short periods and often feel cut off from contemporaries in other universities.

The association plans to run national conferences with training workshops, debates about student journalism and opportunities to network to create "a national student journalism community". It would set up a website featuring news, advice, contacts, information about work experience placements and a discussion forum for student journalists.

In the longer term it wants to organise a national sales house to sell advertising in student publications to the big corporations and organise bulk purchasing by regional groups of university newspapers and magazines to reduce printing costs.

Chris Wright of Sussex university, a prime instigator of the project, told the conference he was managing editor last year of two student publications - the Badger and the Pulse. "I met very few other editors and didn't feel part of a student press community. I felt isolated," he said.

At the same time he was on the executive of the Student Radio Association, a thriving body for students operating in that sector. "It amazed me that a national body for student press did not exist. I knew how beneficial it could be... By organising together we can cut costs, raise revenue, increase the experience of being involved in student press and develop the opportunities available to student journalists, marketeers, designers and photographers."

Simon Francis of Edinburgh university said the association "should not be compromised by belonging to an external organisation with any official links with the NUS".

His paper, the Edinburgh Student, is distributed to universities and colleges throughout the city, some members of the Scottish NUS and some independent of it. "Any deal with NUS would make life difficult for us while trying to maintain our independence," he said.

Although no formal vote was taken at the conference, there was sufficient support for the idea to allow a working party to press ahead with plans for an inaugural conference at Easter to elect an executive and agree a constitution. More information on the Student Press

Association is on its website at: http//www.studentpress.org.uk or e-mail Chris Wright on: ca.wright@virgin.net